Introduction: 

The EU is revising its 1999 strategy on Endocrine Disruptors and the European Parliament is set to publish an “own initiative” report on EDCs in the autumn. This policy workshop therefore aims to highlight the growing body of science and tools on EDCs and Chronic diseases, and the important role that disease groups can play in this critical dossier for human health.

Although the recent Regulations on pesticides and biocides foresee removing EDCs from the EU market, implementation of the protections from those and other laws such as REACH is far too slow. New science highlights in particular the dangers of both EDC mixtures and exposures at low doses in early life.

Objectives of the workshop:

• To facilitate dialogue with important groups working on major Chronic Diseases on the role of EDCs in incidence and prevention, and especially between HEAL members and Chronic Diseases group representatives.
• To explore interesting examples of how different groups are examining the role of environment in chronic diseases incidence and prevention.
• To discuss national, EU and WHO policies and approaches on the prevention/reduction of chronic disease via EDCs policies
• To communicate meeting outcomes to Members of Parliament for their imminent EDC report and to mobilize the Chronic Diseases Community to develop positions and liaise with European Parliament on the report.

Programme:

9:20 - 9:30 Registration

9:30 - 9:35 Introduction by Genon Jensen, HEAL

9:35 - 9:55 Presentation by Loukas Georgiou, Health Attaché, Cyprus Permanent Representation, Cyprus EU Presidency, Chronic diseases, the EU Health Council, and the Cyprus Presidency on ‘Healthy Aging across the Lifecycle’

EU Council on Chronic Diseases and the role of Endocrine Disruptors

10:00 - 10:20 Presentation by Robert Barouki, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Paris Descartes University and co-chair PPTOX conference organizing committee Science on prenatal exposure and EDCs, results from PPTOX conference and scientific consensus statement

10:20 - 10:40 Presentation by Carol Kwiatkowski, Executive Director, The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), USA

Critical Windows of Development timeline: A science based tool for exploring environmental origins and disease patterns

10:40 - 11:00 Discussion

11:00 - 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 - 12:00 Case Studies:

EDC exhibitions in French health insurance offices with Réseau Environnement Santé, France

• EDC exhibitions in French health insurance offices, Céline Nossereau/Priscilla Parard, Mutuelle Ile-de-France, France
• Cancer & Environment Report, Cathy Rigolle, Flemish Cancer League, Belgium
• BPA campaign materials, Breast Cancer UK
• EDCs campaign, Irina Rodriguez de la Flor, Health Defense Organisation/ Fundacion Vivosano, Spain

12:00 - 12:45 Panel Discussion with Peter Korytar, European Commission DG Environment, and all speakers.

12:45 -13:00 Conclusions and Way Forward

13:00 - … Organic, locally sourced lunch buffet